I picked up this card for fifty cents a few weeks ago. I was immediately drawn to the card as it is a re-print of Aaron’s 1954 Topps rookie baseball card.

The card was released in 2000, and is part of Topps’ “Opening Day” set.

Have a look:

And now my question: Why was Hank Aaron put into a set like this? Opening Day sets have always featured the starting line-up of teams from that season. Aaron retired 25 years before this card was released…

I’m really stumped with this one, and would love any insight or info that the great readers of this blog may have.

Topps just decided to include him in both their regular sets and the Opening day set that year as a commemorative card apparently. Probably for the same reason they issued reprints in the base Topps set in 2000.

2000 was the year that Topps reprinted Hank Aaron cards for it’s base set just like it had done Nolan Ryan in 1999, Roberto Clemente in 1998, Willie Mays in 1997 and Mickey Mantle in 1996. I guess they felt the need to put Hammerin’ Hank in the Opening Day set that year.

I think its just Topps being Topps! BTW, I do have a bunch of the Nolan Ryan reprints and maybe a couple Aarons. I also have some of the Mays reprints as well as the Mantles if you would be interested in those. I can get you a list if you want. LMK

“Opening Day sets have always featured the starting line-up of teams from that season.”

I wish that’s the way it was done. That’s how Donruss did it in 1987, and it was brilliant. Topps has never followed that formula, and I’m not sure what their rationale is for their Opening Day set other than a cheaper alternative to the regular base set.